Acupuncturists Without Borders
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
Acupuncturists Without Borders AWB provides immediate long-term disaster relief and recovery to communities impacted by disasters or human conflict. AWB utilizes trauma-informed care therapies such as acupuncture provided by full-trained licensed practitioners to reduce pain stress and trauma in impacted communities. AWB is committed to creating alliances with local community-based organizations and treating all who have been affected survivors first responders emergency personnel and other care providers.
- Income
- $513,288
- Spending
- $334,005
- Spent on programs
- 52%
- Reserves
- -2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 300
- Highest pay
- $53,000, exec dir
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 38 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 183% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 35% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 41% on the year before.
Spending floor
8 of 1552% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 97% of charities in its peer group (public safety and disaster relief, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $76,477 spent. AWB Trauma-Informed Care Training program educates acupuncturists and health practitioners globally to offer trauma treatment to disaster survivors. Trained 300 professionals in trauma recovery disaster response and establishing trauma-informed care projects. Provided training in Europe Canada and the Middle East for professionals aiding refugees; supported midwife training in Mexico. Conducted webinars for healthcare providers delivering trauma care in vulnerable communities worldwide. Provided emergency online training to acupuncturists in the US who responded to major disasters in Florida North Carolina California and Texas.
- $45,864 spent. International Community Clinics support trauma treatments for vulnerable populations globally. Programs include mobile clinics in Haiti post-earthquake trauma care for refugee families in the European Union health services for asylum seekers in Tijuana and ongoing support for communities in conflict zones like Ukraine the Middle East Africa Israel and Palestine.
- $52,491 spent. AWBs Community Service Clinic program offers free ear acupuncture for military veterans first responders refugees elders homeless and sexual violence survivors in 20 plus clinics across the US and Puerto Rico.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2007.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.